I just landed what might be the best job in America. Now before i go on to describe it to you, i would like everyone to make sure they aren't hanging over there keyboard to make sure they don't drool all over it.

The job i just got is a fisheries bioaide for the idaho fish and game. Now this doesnt sound all that great from the job title, but what I get to be doing all summer in the beautiful idaho mountians is.... drum roll please.... backpacking into remote back country rivers and streams while doing fish surveys. I will work 8 days on and have 6 days off. Fish surveying will include snorkeling and counting fish, fly fishing and counting fish, and netting and counting fish. Everything except my sleeping bag is covered by the IDFG (they do encourage the use of your own personal hiking gear to lighten the pack load though). But for food and everything else, IDFG covers it. i have a feeling i need to invest in a nice camera so i can show you what my job, if you can call it that, is about.

alright enough bragging, i am just so pumped that i got the job though. This is going to look great on a resume coming out of college with a BS in env. science in 2 years.

That's impressive. Will you be own your own or with a group?

There will be between 4-5 people in my crew.

Congratulations, and thank you for sharing.

Pictures, definitely share pictures!

There are similar things with the environmental sciences department up here. I know most of the profs who run them. Every time I see one posted I ususally send them an email asking if they'd be willing to second me into the position at half my present salary No takers yet unfortunately...

But I agree with you completely. That's totally a dream job. Enjoy it while you can - before you get old and graduate and have responsibilities and can't possibly take anything like that I am completely envious.

Geez, it's time to become a workaholic. Forget the days off.

This summer, you need to sporadically post some images of "the daily grind." -- no, GREAT job.

IdahoHiker, that's great news! Congratulations!

I will definitely be posting pictures and living this summer up. I think i might try and set a goal of at least 100 miles hiked this summer or something of the sort. i am not sure though.

Are they still hiring?

no, applications ended a day or two ago and i think there was only two openings. I have looked into some montana fish and game interns as well and some of them look really cool though.

That's awesome. You are going to have so much fun. Congrats. Keep us posted... with pictures!!!

Sitting here thinking about what the summer up there will be like.

Let's see. Eight days on and six days off. One day off for laundry and various chores, then five days for backpacking, then eight days for backpacking while "working" -- man! I want a gig like this.

That's what I was calculating too. Sounds great. I fully expect that your lightweight style will become a popular idea during the summer. Be sure to get your gear list whittled down before you have to carry all of that "job required gear".

yea a wet suite and boots are going to be pretty heavy, but i think everything else "job required" is going to be pretty small. I am totally speculating though so i really have no idea .

The job sounds great but as I can't swim and all fish looks the same to me I will refrain from applying...
As for the camera, just to make it easy around water, I would suggest one of the Olympus Tough, something like the 6000/8000 or the Pentax W60, maybe the new Panasonic TS1 with a (somewhat restricted) HD movie recording function. They all have a very useful 28mm wide end , the Olympus and the Pana are also shockproof ( in case you drop them)
My opinion is that the camera you have with you takes better pictures than the one on the shelf at home.

Franco

well with the information of cameras brought up. Does anyone have any experience with the 3-4 above listed cameras? they all look and seem like great cameras but i really have no idea what to look for in a camera besides the more megapixels typically the better, at least to a point. any help with a comparison or any more suggestions for cameras for backpacking would be great.

We have the Penax W30, it's a nice little camera. The only downside given your situation is it takes proprietary rechargeable batteries. Then again, most digital cameras do these days. You might be better off with something that takes AA batteries, and stick Lithium AA cells in it.

Beyond that, as long as you stick with name brands, you'd have to work at it to buy a bad digital camera.

Oh, and regarding your new job: we all hate you.

Now, now, Ken. Regardless of his super wonderful new job, we can't hate him until after he has 50 posts on forum.

If you check out the gadgets forum I believe you'll find quite a bit of discussion on cameras. Maybe you could post there your specifics and people will pipe in with suggestions.

MNS

Thats great! I am actually enrolled at U. Maine Machias as an Environmental Studies student with a concentration on Wildlife Biology. I hope to do something very similar! I am hoping to nail a job just like that either with fish, or wildlife.

I am actually interning this summer on Marshall Island maintaining the Ecology around the island and minimizing the impacts of the campsite on the island.

I was wondering though, how did you go about nailing this job? What would be my first step when I am in the open world? Thanks!

If you prefer, jambanddrummer@gmail.com is my email, thanks again

The door of opportunity opened and i jumped in it. Last year when i lived in the dorms, i get to know this kid down the hall who loved the outdoors as well. Turns out he had just worked on this crew and had worked for the IDFG for years before that. I asked him if he could put a good word in for me and i also had two other really good references (another idfg employee and a great old boss i had). So mainly i just kind of got to know people that had connections. Lastly, put together a very nice resume with a cover letter, resume, work exp. list, and reference list. make it look PERFECT and if you can hand deliver it in person do it. Make sure to act professional and dress nice.

Geez idaho. stop taunting us all already. not only am I drooling but I feel so darn *old*. Nothing makes one long for one's misspent youth as much as watching you take a job like that... Like, I can't even get even with my usual method of taunting my students who say I'm old by saying I make a heck of a lot more money than you because that making of tons more cash means less time for backpacking

On second thought don't stop... Just understand you're killing us.. in a nice way. I hope you realize what a lottery win you've got there and exploit it to it's fullest.

Aren't you afraid you'll count the same fish over and over again?

"I counted 262 fish today, but I only caught one"

so what are the prerequisites?

i could do 13 days on and 1 day off, and being 22 i have lots of energy for something like what you got.

i just have no clue what looks good on a resume for this sort of thing..

very good for you man, i really mean it. what an experience!